New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is one of the most powerful and feared hitting in the league currently. His 2024 MLB season numbers are through the roof, thus putting him in MVP category. In an era where pitchers are pitching the ball hard, Judge is rewriting history with his bat.
Needless to say, the rival pitchers are scared to pitch to Aaron Judge, and hence, the Yankees captain has been on the receiving end of the Barry Bonds treatment. However, with the escape trend growing, MLB insider Joel Sherman suggested a few rule tweaks MLB can enforce to limit the frequency of intentional walks.
Joel Sherman Lays Out Blue Print To Limit Intentional Walks In MLB
As Aaron Judge continues to dominate MLB with his awe-inspiring power and consistent production, comparisons to Barry Bonds have become increasingly common. However, along with these comparisons comes the concern that Judge might face the same fate as Bonds, who was notoriously walked or pitched around to avoid giving him opportunities to hit. On Sunday, the Toronto Blue Jays intentionally walked Judge thrice and his season tally touched 11 compared to a career-high of 19. However, MLB insider from NY Post Joel Sherman isn’t impressed with the opposition’s escape plan against the Yankees captain and hence suggested a few rule changes to curb the frequency.
Joel Sherman opined that the number of intentional walks allowed to a single hitter per game should be capped. Additionally, catchers should be mandated not to move until the pitch is thrown the same way as second basemen, and shortstops are required to remain in the dirt until the pitcher winds up. In an interesting suggestion, Sherman stated that hitters should be awarded two bases upon getting intentionally walked. That means the hitter will directly go to second base, whereas the base runner will move almost two places. However, this idea appears far-fetched and is unlikely to be considered by MLB authorities. Anyways, MLB is hesitant to change and intentional walking is a strategy that has been around the league long enough to be reconsidered. Hence, for now, Aaron Judge will have to bear with the frustrating Barry Bonds treatment until he finds a loophole to play around with.
Aaron Judge Slugging Technique Equivalent To An Axeman
Recently, Tommy Maestas analysed Aaron Judge’s slugging technique and revealed that the New York Yankees captain never misses a pitch at the heart of the strike zone. That’s his strong suit, and he has belted 41 home runs this season with that technique. Maestas added that while the heart of the zone is his strongest suit, Aaron Judge is equally weak at the top of the zone.
It’s basically because Aaron Judge’s slugging technique is equivalent to an axeman trying to cut a tree from beneath. Owing to his prodigious height and towering height, it is impossible for Aaron Judge to hit pitches that are slightly above the strike zone. “What’s more remarkable than Judge’s ability to crush mistakes is the fact that pitchers don’t attack him in the zone that his swing path cannot handle,” Maestas noted.
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